Well here is a thought, maybe you could still go to the shop and get your fabric, but before they cut it, ask them if they could wipe off the cutting area, due to your husbands allergies. I know that would be alot of ask but maybe they do not realize how it is effecting their store. And is it the owners cat, or an employees cat? Honestly in this day and age, owners are looking to make money not scare patrons away.
The only other solution I could think of was taking the fabric directly to the laundry room and washing it. IF its that I have to have type fabric : ).
Hope things work out so you can still shop there, and keep hubby allegy free too.